3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia- 5/28- 6/15/2024

Day 1- Sunset over Balangan beach-5/28/2024

Back at The Keplan resort, the rooftop becomes the perfect place to slow down and take in the evening. From up there, the view opens completely toward the Indian Ocean, and the whole horizon glows with the warm colors of sunset.

View of the sun setting in the horizon from the rooftop at our resort.

From the rooftop, with the open sky above and the ocean glowing below, the moment feels peaceful, vivid, and very Bali.

I captured the sunset at the perfect moment where the entire sky is washed in soft gold and light orange, blending together like warm watercolor. On the ocean, the sun creates a long, bright golden ray that stretches across the surface, almost like a glowing path leading to the horizon.

From the rooftop we can see people gathering along Balangan beach, silhouettes of families, surfers, couples, all pausing to watch the sun sink into the water.

A bunch of parked motorcycles adds that unmistakable Bali atmosphere, a reminder of how life here flows between the relaxed and the lively.

As the sun drops lower, the sky turns a bright orange, soft at the edges, almost like it’s painted across the horizon.

Across the Ocean, a bunch of small boats, probably local fishing boats, heading back after a long day at sea, their boats spread across the golden horizon as the sun disappeared into the clouds. It adds a quiet, everyday beauty to an already magical Bali sunset.

The water catches the light perfectly, forming a shimmering reflection that stretches all the way to shore. The waves pick up glints of orange as they roll in, and the breeze feels warm and gentle.

 As the sun lowered into the horizon and that last glowing edge slipped behind a blanket of clouds, it created that beautiful illusion, the top half of the sun still visible, the bottom hidden, like it was slowly sinking into a soft layer of mist

 Along the shoreline, the people become dark silhouettes, tiny shapes standing still, sitting in the sand, or walking by the water. Their outlines add a sense of calm and scale to the scene, making the sunset feel even more peaceful and expansive.

Dinner at Blue Marlin, Jimbaran

Blue Marlin Café is one of the well-known beachfront seafood restaurants along Jimbaran Bay, an area famous for its long row of dining spots offering fresh seafood grilled over coconut husk fires. It’s a place many tour guides recommend because of its atmosphere and the “dinner on the sand” experience, but we found out that it’s also very much designed for tourists.

When we got to the restaurant, we were asked to pick our seafood, then they will grill it and the food will be brought to the table on the beach.

We ordered two lobsters, and this man is grilling for us.

This area is part of the Jimbaran seafood dining strip, where dozens of restaurants set up tables directly on the beach.

We got 2 Lobsters, clams, and morning glory, which are some of their most typical dishes, all classic items on the Bali seafood menu.

Grilled lobster was very good and fresh.

The food is very simple, they grilled fresh seafood and that's pretty much it.

Our meal of lobsters, clams, sautéed morning glory, and fries was good but it was not exceptional. 

Sitting on the beach at night has its charm,  you can hear the ocean, feel the breeze, and watch the lanterns glow around the tables, but it can also be very dark, making it hard to appreciate the water or the view. Without the sunset, the scenery becomes more about sound than sight.

We wanted a bit of vegetables with our seafood, so I got a plate of sautéed morning glory with garlic.

This is the back of the restaurant facing the ocean.

There are lots of restaurants on this strip of the beach, and then all look pretty much alike.

Overall, Blue Marlin Café offers the classic Jimbaran beachfront dining experience, but it’s understandable that it feels tourist-oriented and a bit expensive, especially after spending the day exploring Bali's more authentic cultural sites.

NEXT... Tanjung Benoa Beach